DENTIST PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO FRAUD, THEFT

An Encinitas dentist accused of stealing more than $260,000 from patients and using the money to buy high-end clothing and merchandise pleaded not guilty Thursday to 45 felony charges.

Dr. Edward Bodek, 60, and his wife, Mary, 56, are both accused of elder financial abuse, identity theft and conspiracy to commit fraud. If convicted, they could be sent to prison for more than 21 years.

Mary Bodek, who is expected to be arraigned today, worked as the business’ office manager and financial controller. She was arrested Wednesday night at Lindbergh Field, where she was getting off of a plane coming from Maryland.

Investigators found two unused plane tickets to Aruba in her luggage and more than 100 credit cards and store gift cards.

Vista Superior Court Judge Marshall Hockett raised Edward Bodek’s bail from $500,000 to $1.5 million, saying that he is a danger to the public and a flight risk.

Deputy District Attorney Anna Winn asked for the higher bail after telling the judge that a box of receipts had been found within the last couple of days containing the names of other patients who could be victims in this case.

So far, 24 victims have been identified, some of whom have been patients of Bodek’s for 20 years, the prosecutor said.

Deputy Public Defender Christine Yonan argued that the $1.5 million bail was “outrageous” given Bodek’s age and lack of a criminal record.

According to court documents, patients began reporting over the past year that they were seeing unauthorized charges from the dental practice on their credit card statements. They said they called the office and were told that the charges were errors that would be corrected.

The charges were large, ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 at a time, and often were incurred several times within a few days.

UMS Banking, which processes credit card charges for the Bodeks’ dental office, reported that there had been more than $260,000 in disputed charges in the defendants’ account since the beginning of 2012, according to the documents.

The patients are longtime clients of the dentist, and some are more than 90 years old.

Investigators searched the Bodeks’ practice and apartment and found that both were filled with stacks of boxes and shopping bags. Only one exam room in the office was operable, and only a small path was clear thought the apartment.

The investigators also learned that the defendants rented 30 storage units containing clothing, high-end handbags and fur coats. Much of the merchandise still had sales tags on it and appeared to have never been worn.